Page 8 of Splintered Hearts

“Didn’t say you were mad.”

“It’s just—”Here we go.“I don’t know. I keep feeling like...” Thinking a moment, he shakes his head. “Never mind.”

“Where else are you going to get to freely complain about Mark? Judgment-free zone. In fact, let me start.”

“I’ll talk to Bri.”

“Bri will tell you to stop being a dumbass and be nice to Mark.”

“It’s not that serious. I’m just annoyed.”

“Why?”

Balling his fingers into fists, he shakes his head. “When Noah graduated, I was excited, which is terrible. I knew that when he graduated he’d have to go back home and work for his father, right? I knew he’d be away and busy, and for the first time I...” He trails off.

“What?”

“I’d have Mark to myself.”

“Go back home to the city, where?”

“His father owns Gaitlan Security.”

What the fuck. “So,richrich, then.” Why is he staying with Mark? Noah has to be rich. Well, maybe not if his father kicked him out I suppose. I doubt the money floweth over.

Picking at the wood on the table, I watch him as he continues.“When he graduated, I knew he’d have to start working there, and I knew he’d be busy. For a couple of months, it was just us. It was great. They talked every day, but there was this wall... That’s so fucking selfish, I know, but I’ve had to literally share my boyfriend with that tiny psychopath our entire relationship.”

“Tiny?” Looking at Hunter, I smirk. “Are we one to talk?”

“I’m not tiny! I’m five-seven, a perfectly respectable height!” He’s also built like a brick shithouse. “Anyway, I know he has to help his friend, but last night when Noah asked to stay, Mark didn’t hesitate to say yes. Then he realized he hadn’t even asked me how I felt about it.”

“Do you think he has feelings—”

“No,” he says, so fast. “Not at all. I know it’s not like that, though at first, maybe I wondered. It’s a weird relationship, and they have messed around before.”

“Like us.”

“No, Jamie. Not like us. They were friends with benefits for a bit before we met. They’ve had sex but that doesn’t bother me. I don’t know what I’m saying, I’m just upset. Not even one day with Mark and this happens.”

“Well, maybe it won’t last that long.”

“I don’t know. But I do know I don’t want to go back tonight, if that’s cool?”

Yeah, that’s fine. The longer he stays here, the better. The last thing I want to do is search for a new roommate. This won’t last, though, I know that. Hunter will bitch for a few days and then they’ll make up and he’ll go back.

“Why doesn’t his friend take your old room?” I ask.

“You don’t want that.”

“Why not? I’ll need to find a new roommate eventually. Mark can come and visit him, and you can visit me.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

“I just need some asshole to split the bills with. I don’t give afuck what he’s like as long as he won’t kill me in my sleep.” My friend quota is full. All I need is someone here to help pay the bills.

“You think Mark will let his best friend live with you?”

“Noah’s an adult, yes? Can make his own choices?” And fuck him very much. Mark’s hatred for me is on another level. I don’t care. “Just trying to help.”

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